Apparatus for removing suspended liquids and solids from gases.



H L. DOHERTY. APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SUSPENDED LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS PROMGASES. APPLICATION FILED 111:0. 31, 1909.

1,0342 1 6. Patented July 30, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. Fl 9.4.

Fla-l Henry Dhhertv, Qwbntoz HJLDOHBRTY, APPARATUS FOR REMOVINGSUSPENDED LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS FROM GASES.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.31, 1909.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mm? e Henry- L. Dnheft Q vg-MMI HENBY L. DOHERTY,

on NEW YORK, N. Y:

AP?ABATUS FOR REMOVING SUSPENDED LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS FROM GASES.

Specification of Letters lPatezic.

Patented July 30, 1912.

Application filed necembemrl'iaoa Serial No. 535,843. v

To all'whom'z't may concern: v

.Be' it known that I, HENRYL'JDQ'HERTY, a

citizen of the United States,'and a resident' of. New York. city, in thecounty ,of -N w-- York and State of New York,-have invented. certain newand; useful. Improvements in Apparatus for, Removing Suspended'l iquidsand Solids from Gases, of which the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to an apparatus for removing suspended liquids andsolids from gases, and particularly to atype of such apparatus in whichthe gaseous current is caused to follow a spiral path.

The object of my invention is to provide means for separating from a'gaseous current substantially all of the. suspended liquid and solidparticles which it contains with special reference to the removal of tarand dust particles from illuminating gas.

In my invention which is the subject of Letters Patent No. 798,667,dated Sept. 5,; 1905, I have revealed an apparatus-- for accomplishingthe above object by passing the gaseous current through a helicalpassage at' a rapid rate, whereby a rapid rotary motion is given to thecurrent and the suspended liquid and solid particles thrown off by thecentrifugal force,'so developed. This pres, ent invention embodies animprovementon the one, which is the subject, of the Letters Patentmentioned, by virtue of which I am enabled to communicate a whirlingmotion to the gas current, while permitting each particle thereof,theoretically, to travel al= ways in the same horizontal plane. By thismethod and apparatus, I am enabled t0 separate the suspended matter fromthe gas by the utilization of centrifugal force, and,

at the same t-in1e,'avoid therelatively high I pressure that isrequisitefor carrying outthis method in myformer apparatus.

is a'vertical diametrical section through the apparatus on the line'rr Bof .Fig. 2. Fig.

2 is a horizontal, cross-section through 'the part elevation of theapparatus showing the method of suspending the lift of the apparatus andthe water and pressure gages,

etc. Fig. 4' is a detail of the water gage showing the manner in whichitis connected. Fig. 5 is aiplan of the apparatus showing the blower oreirhauster according to which means is u'sedfto communicate thenecessary In the accompanying draw nga-Figure vertical section-of theupper part of the tar: extractor, showing the device for supplying theliquid, when there is none, or at least'a deficiency, in the gas itself.Fig. 7 isan enlarged horizontal section through the 'top of theextractorshowing a top view of the liquid-supplying-device.

In the several figures, 1, designates the outer vessel of the apparatus,which is simply a fixed cylindrical tank with the addition of'thevarious gas and liquid connections, gages, etc.

2, designates the vertically-movable bell or lift, which works within 1,and contains the device for communicating the whirling motion to the gascurrent.

3, designates the spiral partition or wall forming the gas passagethrough 2.

'4, in the design shown, is the gas .inletpipe,5the gas discharge pipe.6, the semicylindricalsheet fastened to 1 to forman enveloping chamber,6, for the gas inlet 4..

7 is the cross beam resting on columns 8,

. 8', which.support the. pulleys'9 and 9"over which the rope or chain 10supporting the bell-chambert2 ,"passes. One end' of this chain, 10, isattached to the ring 11 of the bell-chamber, 2,"and the other is fixedto a eounterweight,12. I, 1 13, is a-Water gageindicating the liquidlevel in the bell-chamberh-a'nd leis the;

corresponding pressure. gage. I5, is Us connection ,from the gages to"the interior of the-gas inlet-chamber 6'. i 1 6, is'the connection fromthe liquid in tank -17, is a connection for. introducing the liq uid forthe seal, when starting up the appa ratus; j i I 18 is the liquordischarge pipe for drawing off theliquor when desired.

19, is the tar well in which the tar' collects'owing to the fact thatits specific gravthe gage- 13 to .ity is heavier than that of theammoniacal,

liquor in theapparatus.

20, is the tar dscharge pipe, having a from the gas is discharged:

The method of operation of the particular apparatus shown isasfollowszThe seal valve 21, through which the tar separated in 1 having beenhrough-t'up tothe prop-er level, and the counterweight 12 weighted tothe pointth at" will have just sufficient unbalanced Weight, to thebell-hamber 2', to ex. ert thepressure on the gas requisite to forcevelocity to the: gas. Fig. *6 is an enlarged through the usualcondensing 'andpuri fying apparatus, the valves 22 and 23 on the gasinlet and discharge passages, respectively, are opened and gas flowsthrough the gas inlet pipe 4 to the gas-distributing chamber 6 formed bythe sheet 6. As shown, the pipe, 4, projects well above the surface ofthe liquid seal in 1. The relative depths of the lift and liquid sealare so adjusted that, in its highest position, the gas passages of thelift are under a seal corresponding to the maximum pressure to which thegas will be subjected in the separator.

Any suitable stoppingdevice may be provided to prevent the lift 2 frombeing forced out of its seal by an abnormal gas pressure. In the presentdesign of apparatus it is arranged that the cross-beams 7 will engageandstop the motion of 2 when the latter is at its highest permissibleposition. The gas passes from 6' to the outer term nation of "spiralpassage 25, thence'through the successive con'volutions of 25 until itenters last convolution enveloping the gas-collecting chamber 2-1 of thelift- 2. This, as shown, is

"formed by a pipe, 24, fastened to the top of veloped .throws the liquidandsolid parti-l,

cles suspended-win the gas to the periphery v of the gaseous current,and therefore against;

the outer wall of the spiral passage. This is always wet with a film ofliquid (tar, when the gas passed through the apparatus is: crudeilluminating gas) which immediately seizes upon theparticles dust orglobules of tar, ammoniacal liquor, etc.) and retains them. As theseparated matter accumulates, it runs down the vertical spiral Wall andinto. the liquid seal at the bottom.- Here the tar being of higherspecific gravity than the water and ammoniacal liquor collects in thetar well 19. It may be drawn 05 either continuously or intermittentlythrough the,

pipe 20.

If, during the operation of the apparatus, the volume of gas passingthrough the same should increase above the normal the tend ency would beto build up the pressure in the chamber 2. Since, however, this is coun-'t'erweighted, the result of the increased flow of gas is, simply, toraise the chamber 2, as the flow of gas increases, the free area of thegas passages increasing, of course, with the upward movement of thechamber 2; Since the area of the gas passages through the apparatus thuskeeps pace with the increase in the flow of the gas, the pressureremains substantially constant at the normal gas pressure for theapparatus. Owing to the design of. the apparatus, variations in the flowof gas, within the limits for which the a paratus was designed hasabsolutely no e ect upon the eflicient working of the separator. Sincethe differential pressure between inlet and outlet remains,substantially, constant the velocity of the gas passing through theseparator is also constant; and, as the separation of the gas andsuspended matter depends mainly upon the velocity, the efiiciency of theapparatus is evidently independent of the volume of gas passing.

The spiral passage 25 for the attainment of the highest efiiciency ofoperation should be quite narrow. While I do not limit myself to thisdimension, I consider that a cross-d1mens1on of the spiral passage offrom 1 to 2 in. gives the best results. With both the suction anddischarge pipes of the.

blower can, at my option, operate the separator either under induced orforced draft.

,Also, I can pass the gaseous currentfeither from the center to theperipheryg'r or vice ;versa, as may be preferred. It is evident,

also, that by shifting the blower suction connection to the pipe 5, Ican establish an induced draft from the periphery to the center of myseparating chamber. It is to be understood, that I do not limit myselfto either direction of flow of the gaseous current through theseparator, or to working with either forced or induced draft. As long asthe necessary differential of pressure, between the gas inlet andoutletIto my separator to give the necessary. velocity to the gas issecured, it is evident that, within ordinary ranges of pressure, it is amatter of comparative indifference whether the actual pressure happensto be above or below atmospheric.v I prefer to pass the gaseous currentfrom the periphery to the center of my separator as I thereby subjectthe current to a gradually increasing angular vc locity, and considerthat I can work with less .back pressure for an equal maximum angularvelocity; communicated to the gas current, than when passing the gasfrom center 'to periphery.

In the foregoing description, I have considered, simply, the applicationof my invention to the removal of suspended matter weenie from gas,which itself carries .Lrsufiioient iquidto coat and carry out of thesolid particles in suspension, -l Vhen, the other hand, I wish to removesuspended dust from a vin suspension, I supply the deficiency in liquidto 28', to the spiral liquid-distributing' pipe 29. "This pipe hasnumerous small perforations, 30, in its bottom and coiled in the spiralpassage shown, tie interior extremity of beingcapped. The liquiddischargingfrom'perforations 3O falls onto the deflecting plate 3.1,which is fastened to the spiral wall,

3, of the passage, with spacers, 32, separating it from actual'contactwith the Wall,-

" pressure at which the liquid is supplied tinuous spiral passage is p Iinner-peripheryot the lit, to the axis of the through 28 Filtered taris, l find, well adapted for. the film-forming liquid, but it ismanifest that'any other liquidmay be substituted therefor, if preferred.v

Having described my invention, what I claim is:.

1. An apparatus forseparating from a gaseous fluid particles suspei'idcdtherein which comprises in combination a gas holder comprising a, tankmember and a lift men"- ber a continuous spiral passage in said liftmember, an. outlet for gaseous fluid at the center of said passage andan inlet for gaseous fluid at the outer termination of said spiralpassage.

- An apparatus for separating from a gaseous fluid, particles suspendedtherein, which comprises in combination a gas holder comprising a tankmember and a'lift memher, a substantially, vertical, continuous spiralpartition. fastened to the top of the said lift and its lower edgeterminating in the sealing liquid contained. in the. tanlv member ofsaid gas holder, whereby a conformed" from the 7 same, ani'outlet forgaseous fluid at the axis of the lift and an inlet for gaseous fluid atthe inner periphery of said l ft,

3. An apparatus for separating from a gaseous fluid, particles suspendedtherein, which, compr I holder coinnrisin tank-member and a lift 1 1 1member, a substantially VGZ-lilfifl continuous spiral partition attachedto the'top cf the ,lift of said gas teri'ulnating in,

.r tans of said gas holder, who one spiral passage is formed reiov acontinufrom the inner i or air current) or treat a gas con taming muchsol d and little-liquid matter v the surface of the vertical wall of.the spiral through theflexlble hose s in combination a gas.

smaller cross-section than said axial holder and its lower edge thesealing liquid in the by the sealing liquid in-the tankof said gasholder a continuous spiral partition having its inner convolutionenveloping said perforated pipe and the extremity of its outerconvolution attached to the shell of said lift, the upper edge of saidpartition. being attached to the top of said lift and its lower edgeterminating in the sealing liquid in said tank, whereby there is formeda continuous ,spiral passage through the space incloscd by said liftfrom said axial perforated pipe to the inner periphery of said lift, aninlet for gaseous fluid communicating with the outer convolution of saidspiral passage and an outlet for gaseous fluid communicating Withthesaid perforated pipe.

5. An apparatus for separating from a gaseous fluid, particles suspendedtherein, which comprises in combination a gas holder having asubstantially vertical perforated pipe attached to the top ofthe lift ofthe same and its lower extremity sealed by the scaling liquid in thetank of said".gas holc. a continuous spiral partitionhaving its innerconvolution enveloping said perfojrated pipe and the extremity of itsouter convolution attached to the shell of said lift, the upper edge ofsaid partition being attached to the top of said lift and its lower edgeterminating i'nithe sealing liquid in said tank, whereby there is formeda continuous spiral passage't'hroughthe space inclosed by said lift fromsaid axial perforated pipe to a place on the inner periphery of saidlift, a projecting extension of the -shell-of said lift inclosing achamber which is. in communication with the outer, convolution. of saidspiral passage, a projecting A:

sealing liquid in said tank, said gas passage "passing through thebottom of the tank of I said gas holder, and terminating abovethe being.of smaller cross-section than the chamber formedby the shell of saidlift, andso located with reference to such ,cham: her that it projectsinto said: chamber, a receptacle for tar communicating with the bottomof said tank, a pipe for withdrawing tar from said receptacle, means forintroducing sea-ling liquid into said tank and means foik withdrawingsurplus liquid from said ta" 6. In combination, an open-top tank adaptedto hold a sealing-liquid, an openbottoni tank of smaller cross-sectionthan said open-top tank, said open-bottom tank being adapted totelescope with saidopen-top, a counter-weighting device attached to saidopen-bottom tank, means for introducing gas into said open-bottom tankand means for discharging gas from said open-bottom tank, 'a' spiral gaspassage within said open bot-tom tank connecting saidgas-introducing-meanswith said gasdischarging. means, and adraft-producing means, connected to the lnterior of said open-bottomtank for the purpose of producing a draft through the spiral passage ofsaid open-bottom tank.

7.-In an apparatus for separating suspended matter from a body ofgaseous fluid,

' the combination of a draft-producing'means to impart motion to saidbody of gaseous fluid, a spiral passage of constant length but variablecross-sectiom-means for automatically varying the cross-section of saidspiral passage according to the volume of gas flowing therethrough, andmeans for wlthdrawing-from said spiral passage the matter separatedtherein from the body of gaseous fluid. :1 assing therethrough.

8. apparatus for separating" from a gaseous fluid particles suspended;therein;

.which comprises in combination, a gasholder, comprising atank memberand a lift member, a continuous sp ral passage in said lift member,means for, supplying a.

film of liquid to the outer wall of said spiral passage, an inlet forgaseous fluid at the outer termination of said spiral-passage and anoutlet for gaseous fluid at the central termination of said spiralpassage.

9. An apparatus for separating from a gaseous fluid particles suspendedtherein, which comprises in combination a gas holder having asubstantially vertical continuous spiral partition fastened to the topof the lift of the same and itslower edge terminating in the sealing.liquid in said -gas holder, whereby a continuous spiral passage isformed from the inner periphery o-f said lift to the axis of the same, aspiralperforated pipe located in the upper part of said spiral passageand, following the convolu tions of the same, a deflecting plateattached to the wall of said spiral passage but not in contact with saidwall, below said spiral free area 0 perforatedpipe, and means forsupplying .liquid to said spiral perforated ipe, an mlet for gaseous uidat the perip cry of said lift and an outlet for gaseous fluid at theaxis of said lift, and a receptacle for tar' in communication with thelower part of the tank of said gas holder.

- 10.rIn an apparatus for separating suspended matter from a body ofaseous fluid the combination of a draft-pro ucing means to impart motionto said body of gaseous fluid, a spiralpassage of constant length butvariable cross-section, means for supplying liquid to the outer wall ofsaid spiral passage, means for automatically varying the cross-scctionofsaid spiral passage according to the volume of 'gas flowing therethroughand means for withdrawing from ,a gaseous fluid, matter suspendedtherein,

the combination of a spiral passage having the spiral wallthereof,substantially vertical, a gas conduit connected to the central extremityof said massage, a gas conduit connected to the peripheral extremity ofsaid passa e, and means for varying the l the cross-section of saidpassage according to the volume of gas flowing therethrough.

' 13. In an apparatusfor separating from a gaseous fluid, mattersuspended therein, the} combination of a cylindrical chamber, having asubstantially vertical continuous spiral partition fastened to the topof said cylindrical chamber but terminating above the bottom'of saidchamber, whereby a continuous spiral passage is formed from the center{to the periphery of said chamber, a gas cdnduit connected to thecentral extremity of said passage, means for automatically varying thefree area of said spiral passage according to the volume of gas passingtherethrough, a gas-chamber in free and unobstructed communication withthe eri heral extremit Y of said s iral 3as- P g 5 P l sage, an a gasconduit connected with said gas chamber.

14. In an apparatus for separating from. a gaseous fluid, mattersuspended therein, the combination of a spiral passage, means forsupplying a liquid to the'outer wall of said

